Nick Toscano

Yarra Council has endorsed a proposal to name a Richmond street in honour of Tigers football legend Jack Dyer.

Dressed in yellow and black, a crowd of Richmond football fans filled Yarra Council's chambers on Tuesday night to address a meeting in support of the long-running campaign calling for a street to be named after the famous football identity.

"We had a pretty substantial representation from the football club ... People were so emotional about Jack Dyer that they were in tears," mayor Jackie Fristacky said.

"He was such a mainstay of the Richmond community - not just as a football player, but a long-term resident and benefactor - and in so many ways he was a legend."

Councillors voted in favour of naming an as-yet unnamed street in honour of the former ruckman, also known as Captain Blood, who died in 2003, aged 89.

Cr Fristacky said the street would be part of a new one-hectare housing development, Jaques Richmond, bounded by Highett, Griffiths, Palmer and Coppin streets.

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The council hopes the new street will be named Jack Dyer Street, rather than simply Dyer Street, but Cr Fristacky said the proposal to include the full name needed to be approved by the Victorian Place Names Committee.

Gabrielle Turner, Dyer's niece, spoke at the council meeting about her uncle's role in the community, and of the family's history.

Yarra Council said the naming would be a recognition of Dyer's contribution to the community, but the process could "not happen overnight", with administrative procedures, approval with the Place Names Committee and consultations with the indigenous community still to come.

"There are still a number of hurdles," Cr Fristacky said.

Supporters of the campaign said naming a Richmond street after Dyer was long overdue.

"Not only was he one of the greatest footballers to grace this town, but he was very much part of the social fabric of the community," campaigner Suzana Talevski wrote on the petition's website.

"He was a local policeman and a small business owner ... right here in Church Street, Richmond. Everywhere you go, someone has a story to tell about Jack."

One of the toughest ruckmen of his time, Dyer played more than 300 games for the Tigers between 1931-49. He coached the side from 1941-52.